Side Adventure Dab Paws, Daft Tasks

Kaii Nashirou

Rating: Able Seabeast
Engineer's Mate
Gentry: Gentlebeast
Urk Expedition Service Badge
Still recovering, Kaii finally was allowed to get back to work by the demon in Pine Marten form. Aside from a brief talk with the Duke that came from his little... escapade, the marble fox was bound to the infirmary bed until recently. He was in no way enjoying it, lacking mental stimulation needed to not slump into depths of his memories. Now however his was a free todd again! As such he instantly got back to work at the engine room, manning it with extra diligence and care, simply because quite many crewbeasts have died and any paws remaining had extra duties.

By the end of his shift, all of the tasks he was given were done. Needing a bit of fresh air, Kaii left the abdomen of the ship and went on to the main deck, trying to enjoy the fresh, salty, morning air. Looking into the see for a while, he was rather fond of seeing the sun, skipping the waves and basking them in reddish glow. He was wearing his work clothes, marked with coal, oil and soot, just like his white fur. Still, he cared little for it, after spending so long in sterile(ish) environment of the ship's infirmary, a bit of dirt was welcome as if it helped him to celebrate his return to work. Yet of course, it wasn't appropriate to walk around as such for too long, and he didn't want to soil his bandages if possible.

He moved to the nearby barrel meant for gathering rainwater, taking just enough to wash himself near the bandages. Suddenly, a loud sound of ripped cloth filled the air. Kaii took a look around and quickly found the source. One of the crewbeast, a young looking Ermine, slid down the sail, tearing it with claws while trying to hold onto it to avoid falling into the sea. He recognised them, remembering as they were nominally part of galley crew. Knowing the losses that were taken on Urk, the fox couldn't be surprised they had to substitute a few roles around.

Kaii moved to help, but even before he got to do so, there were already a few of more experienced sailors that were helping the terrified youngling down. He just sighed, knowing that this will probably result in extreme punishment for an attempt to save one's own life. Not a great thing, but Kaii didn't know why was the Ermine even falling. Was it just a case of inexperience? Bad luck? In no way Kaii could know. After finishing to wash himself, he started moving to the ladder leading down into the ship.

He got to the engine room again, waiting for Swifttail to come so he can go to attempt sleep. Having a moment of respite, Kaii took out a long needle, meant for engraving, and fidgeted it between fingers of his paw. Unfortunately, a very sour looking officer, one very mad vixen, entered the room and locked her eyes on Kaii. He stood his place as she stormed over to him and pointed at the needle in his paw. "Aww, ya having a break lad?" She started softly, almost with a purr, before yelling out: "RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE LACKIN' PAWS ON DECK?! Get yer tail before I whoop it and getta work. Yer gunna use that needle to patch me up a sail sum idiot shredded." She didn't wait for an answer before pointing at the engine. "And if dat's what ye 'neers are doing here, WHICH IS BUMMIN' 'ROUND, tell yer friends to join ye. After all, ya fix what makes us go forward." Kaii only managed to open his muzzle before she dug her finger into his chest. "Fix. The. Dammned. SAIL. THAT IS AN ORDER!" She yelled before leaving very confused and calmly mad Kaii alone.
@SwifttailTheFox
 
Swifttail didn’t remember crawling out of the hammock. He just remembered standing beside it, half-dressed and aching. The pain in his paw had dulled from a jagged scream to a constant, sulking throb. Barrett said that was good. Healing meant pain, apparently.

He hadn’t spoken a word all morning. Not to the beast who passed him the sad excuse for breakfast, which wasn't more than a grey gruel with a single wilted green, and not to the quartermaster who nearly tripped over him on the narrow stair. The decks felt heavier than they had before Urk. Maybe it was the injured paws. Maybe it was grief. Maybe it was just he himself, and the weight of knowing that no beast was going to lighten the load these days. Not with so many less crew in a functional state, or now wandering the mysterious realm of the Dark Forest.

He descended the final ladder to the engine room, the familiar hiss and clank offering his tired mind no comfort. The heat hit him first. Then the stink of oil. Then...

“Ah!!!” he hissed through his teeth, narrowly avoiding collision with a beast in the dim lantern glow.

Kaii stood there, soot-smudged but upright, looking a fair bit better than he had when last Swifttail saw him in the infirmary, despite being just as exhausted as himself. Beside him, a vixen officer radiated fury like boiler steam.

Swifttail straightened as best he could. His ears perked, his shoulders tensed. He tried to put some steel in his tone, but it came out more like rust. "With respect, marm, I'm 'ere to relieve Mr. Nashirou at coalin' duty."

The vixen’s eyes narrowed.

"That ol' codger Rugg an’ ‘is pet Kip are finally breakin’ a sweat feedin’ this ship." Her voice had the crisp snap of a sail in high wind. "The order stands. Brush up on yer seamstressin’ an’ FIX. THE. SAIL."

She didn’t wait for a salute. She turned on a sharp bootheel and vanished up the ladder, no doubt on the hunt for her next unfortunate soul.

Swifttail blinked, then turned slowly to Kaii with a look of such pained disbelief it might’ve been comical, if either of them had energy to laugh.

"Aye aye," he said to the now-empty air, his tone utterly devoid of spirit.

He watched the vixen’s tail vanish from sight, then looked down at his own wrapped paw. The bindings were tight. Too tight. They needed to be. But Vulpuz it hurt.

"Mate..." he muttered, lifting his eyes to Kaii, "How kin' I mend a sail in this state, let alone climb the riggin'?"
 
Kaii too looked at the tail of leaving vixen. Not in a way a common sailor would watch tails though. His stare would, if possible, both flash freeze and emblaze this tail. Only after the officer had left, Kaii put his paw over the top of his muzzle, quelling his fury in an instant. His paw dropped as his ears turned forward to Swift. After hearing his words, he took a look at him, and Swift was looking miserable. Just like him really, for Kaii too was exhausted, dirty and held by tight bandaging over his entire chest, back and in few more places.

Were it not for his steel resolve, he probably wouldn't even try to get out of the bed in this state. Mostly as seen by the fact his teeth were slightly clenched as he spoke. "Good morning Swift, good to see you are in somewhat functional state... Sadly Ms. Minister of Niceties didn't seem willing to consider that." His voice was dry and sarcastic. But he didn't smile, instead he just sighed and streched his arms, straining his muscles against the dressings, but managing to ignore the pain.

"Our poor state aside, albeit, I really do not think either of us can do much precision work now," He spoke again, now much more stoically and matter-of-factly. "do you know even how to sew? I myself have only seen it being done."

Kaii looked down at the needle, now with tired gaze. There were at least a few beasts he knew that could do that. Darragh being one of them. But he wasn't sure if they were even awake, besides, current load of duties must've been even harsher for others due to their position. It wasn't right to ask for help when they needed it themselves.

"I've seen what tore the sail. Claws of Ermine, one from galley crew, who tried to avoid falling from the height. I think we should ask for the sail to be dropped so we can work on it. At least... that would be a start." The marble fox suggested as he regain composure and focus fully, ready to do what was expected of him no matter his state.
 
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